Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies had been received from Richard Landeryou.  The Chairman, Toni Bradnum experienced technical issues which were not able to be resolved on the day.  The Vice Chairman, Diana van der Klugt assumed the role of Chairman for the meeting

To receive the notes of the Environment, Waste & Recycling PDAG meeting held on 15 November 2021

The Notes of the previous meeting of the Environment, Waste & Recycling PDAG held on the 15 November 2021 were received.  Noted that the division of that portfolio into two PDAGs created a tighter ongoing focus for this meeting.

To receive a presentation from the Recycling & Waste Strategy Manager

The Recycling and Waste Strategy Manager presented an update on the post-trial findings arising from the Food Waste Trial that had run for 12 weeks and concluded in mid December.  Members were reminded that the trial had been conducted with 105 households with a view to testing a 3-weekly collection model, and the effectiveness of 140 Litre capacity bins.  This included the introduction of a separate food waste collection, in addition to other recyclable household waste, and residual, currently unrecyclable waste.

Feedback from participating households indicated that

-          90% of respondents made use of the food recycling option, and 67% of those that did not participate composted at home instead).

-          78% felt the household waste bin was adequate for a 3 week delivery cycle.

-          13% also took waste to the Recycling Centre during the trial period.

-          Participants’ satisfaction with the trial experience was consistently high       (85-94%).

-          Take-up and experience in residents of flats was less positive, but consistent with other experience.

The evaluation of the trial indicated that:

-          140 Litre bins should be sufficient for most household for a 3 weekly collection model.

-          A significant amount of food waste was disposed of in a more environmentally effective way.

-          The amount of residual (non-recyclable) waste was reduced.

-          Communications were understood in relation to the food waste trial.

-          Communal living areas present a greater challenge.

Members sought clarification on a number of issues, including

-          Raised, and acknowledged, that this was a relatively limited trial – households drawn from a single community, but also temporally restricted since it did not include peak periods of  waste disposal, such as Christmas. 

-          Limitations on the infra structure of bin storage / capacity for communal living buildings is acknowledged, recognised and under review.

-          Variable caddy sizes for food waste – taken into account though canvassing for differential sized caddies per household would be a major undertaking.

-          Initial roll out of the scheme was projected for December 2023 but may be later to enable assimilation and assessment of pilot evidence.  Budgeting for the earlier date but prudent to assume longer term since no further steer has been forthcoming from Government.

To receive a presentation from the Interim Head of Waste

The Interim Head of Waste presented an update on progress towards a new contract for tyre procurement, due to be considered by Cabinet on 27 January.   This was founded upon a collaboration with four other local councils, enabling the reduction of individual costs.  A key element of the approach was the preferred use of remould tyres where possible, reducing costs and environmental impact.  The Council had not previously had a market-competitively contract in place.

Remoulds provided a comparable level of quality and reliability compared to new tyres, at a 30% reduction in cost, and around an 80% saving on the materials required and therefore the environmental impact.  The preferred bidder scored highly on quality, and sustainability, but also on technical elements that reflect the specific demands of local authority vehicle use, particularly kerbing protection for immediate roadside activity, and recycling policies.

Members sought responses to several questions and clarifications, including:

-          A reassurance that remould technology had improved considerably in recent years and that assurance in tyre quality and durability was well founded.

-          Costs cited did not demonstrate a saving on current costs.  However it was clarified that the moderate increase in costs reflected an approach that reduced the financial impacts of wider rising sector prices.

Also for consideration by the Cabinet on 27 January was a report on proposals for Traffic Management.  Horsham, DC was looking, in partnership with Crawley Borough Council, to procure competitive traffic management services, including lane closures, blocking vehicles etc.   This was currently under evaluation and a new contract was expected to be awarded from 1 April 2002, but no clear preferred bidder yet identified.  Council budget had been increased from £80k to £90k to enhance the provision.

The Recycling and Waste Strategy Manager presented an update on the project, launched in May 2021 and funded to December.  This included two strands – of collection and disposal – small electrical goods/ textiles, and batteries.   The assessment of the project indicated that:

-          Communications have been extremely effective and the booking service has worked well.

-          The use of the Pink Van for doorstep, booked collections was a notable success and created a ‘buzz’ for the service.

-          Residual waste was reprocessed where possible and sent to secure and reliable markets (UK based wherever possible) where this was not possible.

-          Collections to October 2021 included over 6 tonnes each of electrical goods and batteries, and 17 tonnes of textiles.

-          Around 75% of collected items are reused, with the reminder recycled.

The Council was currently assessing options for the continuation of the service.

This had been launched the previous day.  It was aimed at encouraging reuse rather than disposal / landfill for items that were sufficient quality to be re-used.  Donors did not expect to receive a commission and income was split between HDC and WSCC.  Income was minimal since this initiative was more about reuse / recycling than income raising.  Ten items had been sold in the first 24 hours through on line sales site hosted on the HDC site.  Sold items can be collected from the Horsham Drill Hall car park.

A question was raised about whether the items sold through this scheme might otherwise have gone onto other sites, such as Gumtree.  The officer view was that this may be ensuring that reusable items that might otherwise go to disposal retained an active use, though it was unclear what level of re-sale may have been achieved within the wider marketplace.  More specialist items were sold through more appropriate routes such as auction and specialist collectors.  HDC was maintaining an assessment of whether this was moving items away from disposal as opposed to other reuse options.

To note the Forward Plan extract for the Recycling & Waste portfolio

Noted that two of the items on the current agenda were on the Cabinet’s 27 January agenda.  It was expected that the Cabinet would consider an item on collection and disposal of Small Electrical Appliances and Textiles at their meeting in March.